I COULDN'T HAVE WRITTEN IT BETTER MYSELF!

I came across this article and I thought wow!

This should be printed and plastered all over the world.

In every school and Temple, Church, Mosque, Synagog

and any where else it may help get the message out into

the big universe of the millions of human brains.

Labelling People 

Avoiding the consumption of assumption!
One of the most common terms,

Used by young people to describe others is "loser."
Thats not a description,

It's a label.
Some examples of the countless other labels we freely use

to "describe others include"

Fundamentalist, delusional, perfectionist, idealist, realist,
extremist, terrorist, Catholic, Jew, Moslim, pessimist,

pacifist,narcissistic,optimist, racist, liberal, homophobe,

jerk, stupid, pro-life, pro-choice, two-bit punk, and loudmouth.

The problem with labels"

Is they are merely tags that contain assumptions.
When a label takes us in,

We are taken in by opinions and beliefs, that is...

We willingly accept statements without evidence of their validity.
The assumptions become stereotypes, which soon become put-downs.
Before you know it,

We are engaged in name-calling or verbal abuse.

People are complex, multifaceted, and multidimensional.
When we apply labels to them,

We put on blinders and see only a narrow view"

Of what is an expansive and complicated human being.
Did you ever buy?

A plastic container or bottle of food at the super market
with a huge label on the lid and sides that prevented,

the contents of the package from being seen?
That's what the labels we use to "describe people,

do they obscure the contents of the individual.

When speaking about others,

theres nothing wrong with using descriptions.
Novelists do it all the time.

But there is a big difference between descriptions and labels.
For example, think about the difference between saying,

"Tom is tall." and "Tom is a liberal."
"˜Tall is a description because it is based on a fact,

its just another way of saying "Tom is six feet, four inches."

When we call Tom a "liberal, however,

we empty the word of meaning.

Here's what I mean.

What are you, a liberal, conservative, or other?

The answer is on some issues"

you are liberal and on other issues,

you are conservative or other.

Right?

So, how can I describe you by a single term?

If I were to do so,

I would reduce you to a one-dimensional
artifact of the profound person you really are.

Wouldn't that be grossly unfair?
Isn't that good enough reason

to avoid the consumption of assumption?

The use of labels is more than unfair.

It is hurtful as well.
Despite the nursery rhyme about sticks and stones,

words can be painful.

Take 16 year old Holly, for example.
Here's what she has to say,

"I'm kind of shy,

so people often label me as stuck up or snobby.

It bothers me to see people defame those
who cant help whatever is being said about them.

Hopefully, if people see it put into words,

they'll realize how stupid it is to stereotype
people theyve never even met."

Once we understand the power of words,

we will want to do more than avoid using them

to diminish others.

We will want to use them to encourage and inspire them.

Yet, if we dont remain vigilant,

20:03 - Tuesday, December 12, 2006 - post comment

Labeling People

This is an intresting concept, and though it is not entirely bad, It is in general a good idea, but not something I could truly subscribe to people, because for one thing I do not think all so-called labled are false, and in a lot of cases people do things or present themselves in a way that makes a certain statement, a lot of times intentionally, and if they do not want to be labled such they should not present themselves as such. I mean some people really are jerks and well as they say if it looks like a duck and quack like a duck then it probaly is a duck, as well I think it is a touch over-senstive for people to get upset becasue of some "label" someone else puts on them. I guess it is a nice idea but a little too touchy feely for a mean-spirited sort like me.

SilverWind - 13:41 - Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Dear Dawn

Great article nice to have you back!!!!!!!!!
I sent e-mail to you hope you received it
Hope your getting better
(((((((((((((((((((hugs love Heather))))))))))))))))

Heather - 19:03 - Tuesday, December 12, 2006

labels

Really an interesting article . Dear Dawna can you send it as an e mail to me so thati can send to all my friends.

dinakar - 17:49 - Wednesday, December 13, 2006